Ward trained at Ferrero's academy in Valencia for four years, so I presume he's used to playing on clay. Two of the three challengers he has won were on clay, including Sarasota last year.

Kei has said he likes to play on clay (he is a junior RG doubles champion in 2006), but he confessed in his recent blog that after not playing on the surface for two years it's taking time for him to adapt playing on clay. He also said that hitting the ball on clay is a lot heavier on his arm. Hope he's getting used to play on clay again as he plays matches.